A CHINESE LIFE OF MOHAMMED 175 



dated the Prophet's birth 24 years before it occurred, con- 

 tinues in error by making the supposed entry into China to 

 be in A. D. 587, when Mohammed was a youth of 17. Later, 

 when referring to the Hegira which took place in A.D. 622, 

 our author confuses the dates hopelessly, for which he may 

 be excused in view of the difficulty of harmonizing so< many 

 calculations. 



However much the Moslems of China might like to 

 think of the rapid success of the new Faith and its spread to 

 distant countries at once, our "Amials" have to tell of slow 

 progress at Mecca, with some hardships and persecutions. 

 Time will not permit me to give more than a hasty mention 

 of the events leading up to the Hegira or migration to Medina. 

 There were always some opposers at Mecca, not only Jews 

 and Christians, but also among the Koreish and Mohammed's 

 own family. Things became so uncomfortable that some of 

 the first believers removed to Abyssinia where a Christian 

 king received and befriended them. They returned upon 

 hearing that there had been a further revelation of the Book, 

 and that the opposers had conformed to the Faith. The story 

 of the lapse of Mohammed into recognition of the local gods 

 is not given, but another story of the people urging the 

 Prophet to become king, and he steadfastly declining the 

 honour, is told. This is given as the cause of the tension 

 which followed, including the personal attacks on Moham- 

 med, on whom the Jews and Christians are said to have once 

 fastened a saddle from which his daughter had to release 

 him; they also derided the Faith as being "the religion of the 

 camel-driver." A second migration to Abyssinia took place, 

 and negotiations were opened with some residents of Medina 

 about a possible removal to that city. 



In the twelfth year of the Prophetship, Mohammed is 

 said to have made another ascent into heaven, riding on an 

 immortal steed, and escorted by Gabriel as far as the seventh 

 heaven where the guide had to stay while the Prophet pro- 

 ceeded to the ninth heaven. This journey was accomplished 

 in one night, and it is stated that as a proof of it there still 

 remains a suspended stone from which the Prophet mounted 

 his horse for the journey. 



Preparations were at last completed for a peaceful migra- 

 tion to Medina, which henceforth became the city of 

 residence of the Prophet, and from which his conquests 

 began. There are a few thrills of excitement in the Prophet's 

 escape from pursuers, and some marvellous occurrences 

 connected therewith. The limits of this paper will not permit 

 of my dwelling upon these, or of any detailed following of 

 the Prophet's career after he resided at Medina. The Chinese* 



